DA: Robbery Defendant Tried To Buy Off Witness, Threatened Police

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WOBURN (CBS/AP) — A Malden man whose armed robbery trial was scheduled next week is charged with trying to pay a witness not to testify, and threatening to kill the district attorney and police officers when they found out.

“This office takes such deliberate tampering with the pursuit of justice and disrespect for the criminal justice system and those who engage in the protection and service of our citizens, very seriously,” District Attorney Leone said.

Leone’s office said 36-year-old Sean Kearney was indicted Tuesday on five counts of intimidating a witness and being a habitual criminal. He is to be arraigned Wednesday in Woburn Superior Court.

Kearney was set for trial March 6 in a 2010 robbery in Everett. Prosecutors said he sent three letters in mid-February asking people to pay off a witness.

When he learned authorities knew about the letters, he allegedly threatened to kill police and the district attorney during a recorded phone call from jail.

It is alleged that Kearney said, “I’m gonna kill a cop, I’m gonna kill one of these cops here, as many as I can possibly get my hands on.” He also is alleged to have said, “they’re gonna have to put a Hannibal Lecter mask on me to get me there (to court) ‘cuz I’m gonna kill the (expletive) DA, I’m gonna (expletive) execute the (expletive).” The defendant is also alleged to have stated, “…how’s that for additional charges, you punk (expletive)?!”

It’s not immediately known who is representing him on the new charges.